I don't know about you, but I'm out of explanations when someone asks what the numbers mean on the back of a car. It used to be very simple to explain that a C280 was a C-class Mercedes with a 2.8-liter engine, and that was the end of the story. But with engine downsizing and the egos of their customers in mind,… »6/23/13 3:00pm 6/23/13 3:00pm

A badge is what defines a car. When you see something for the first time, out there in the real world, you look to the badge to know what it is. Car companies spend millions of dollars and thousands of hours on testing and focus groups, just to get the right badge. »5/12/13 4:05pm 5/12/13 4:05pm

What does a badge say about a car? I’m not talking about the four rings on an Audi or the bow-tie on a Chevy, but the way the model name is written on the back. If it’s in block letters, is it going to be a serious and uptight car? If it’s in erratic-looking script, is it an erratic-looking car? »5/12/13 12:01pm 5/12/13 12:01pm

Usually when I hear "Etsy" and "car accessories" in the same sentence, I picture a colossal knitted car cozy or maybe a shift knob made from the head of an old troll doll. I'm happy to say I'm a big jerk who doesn't know what the hell he's talking about, since these fake car badges are pretty fun and are available on…»10/04/12 9:30am 10/04/12 9:30am

Sakichi Toyoda was born in Japan 145 years ago today on February 14th, 1867. By all accounts a hard-working entrepreneur, Toyoda's greatest success was building a small business manufacturing textile looms. That business ended up growing into a company that, for two years beginning in 2008, became the world's largest… »2/14/12 1:30pm 2/14/12 1:30pm

Here's a fun challenge: Name these 42 brand logos as fast as possible for bragging rights in the comments. Matt finished with 6:18 left, I brain-farted on Holden and finished at 5:10. How fast are you? [Sporcle] »5/24/10 1:15pm 5/24/10 1:15pm